Groningen is a municipality and a city in the north of the Netherlands, and the capital of the Groningen province. The city is seen as the most important city of the northernmost provinces of the Netherlands. The city is also known as Stad (City) and Groot Loug (Big Village). The citizens of the city of Groningen are known as Stadjers.

Population centres

Dorkwerd — Engelbert — Groningen — Hoogkerk — Leegkerk — Middelbert — Noorddijk — Noorderhoogebrug — Oosterhogebrug — Roodehaan — Ruischerbrug — Vierverlaten.

The city of Groningen

The city is noted for its Martinitoren (Martini Tower), the fifth tallest church tower in the Netherlands. The 97 metre (318 ft) tall tower, which is known among locals as "d'Olle Grieze" (The Old Grey One), was completed in 1482. The spire then reached 127 metres (416'8"). The spire burnt down in 1577. The current tower dates back to 1627.

Groningen is the home of the University of Groningen and the Hanzehogeschool Groningen. The city is also known for its large student community: about 40000 students on a total population of 177000 inhabitants. Because of this large number of students the city has a vibrant nightlife and lots of cultural activities.

The city also has a strong underground culture. There a few good venues, like Vera (see link to their website below), where a lot of good bands have played. The scene includes punk, gothic and metal. The region has a rich underground culture, with many bands.

Industry

Groningen has two sugar factories, operated by CSM and Suikerunie. In the 2005 season these will be expected to produce a total of 600,000 tonne of beet sugar.

Transportation

Railways:

• (East) Winschoten, Nieuweschans, In Nieuweschans possibility to change trains to Leer, Lower Saxony, Germany.
• (North) Roodeschool/Delfzijl
• (West) Buitenpost, Leeuwarden
• (South) Zwolle, Amersfoort, Schiphol/Utrecht/Rotterdam/The Hague

Busses:

• local lines operated by Arriva and NoordNed.
• Publicexpress, connecting directly to Oldenburg (Germany)

Road (Motorways):

• (West/A7) Drachten, Leeuwarden, Amsterdam
• (South/A28) Assen, Zwolle, Utrecht
• (East/A7) Winschoten, Nieuweschans, Oldenburg

Airport:

• Groningen Airport in Eelde (Drenthe province)

Football stadium

The football (soccer) stadium of Groningen is called Oosterpark Stadion. There are 12,500 seats. This stadium is the home of the football club FC Groningen. Currently, a new stadium is being built, the Euroborg.

External links

• Groningen Official Website
• Tourist information
• University of Groningen
• Bus lines (PDF)
• CSM sugar
• Publicexpress bus line
• VERA: Club for the International Popunderground